The building was designed in two halves, a three-storey daycare facility, housing the main entrance, back of house areas such as the kitchen and laundrette, consulting rooms, offices, and community spaces. The other half of the building housed the In-Patient Unit (IPU) across two single storey wings. The IPU wings provide accommodation for 24 patients, each room consisting of a bedroom, ensuite and small living area. Externally, we landscaped a new car park, patient gardens, and courtyard spaces.

The construction methods followed a relatively traditional design, including a steel frame supported off of ground beams and pile foundations. The external facades were infilled with Metsec, cementitious boarding and insulation, with brickwork to the outer skin and skim finished plasterboard internally.

KEY FEATURES
Working within a Live Housing Development
We held bi-monthly liaison meetings with Thakeham Homes to discuss access routes, upcoming deliveries and to coordinate the requirements of each developing site. Our open and collaborative approach ensured that the two projects were delivered successfully with minimal disruption to one another. With regards to working in and around newly occupied homes, we issued newsletters to all residents within a 100m radius of the site. Our Site Manager also joined a local social media group to provide direct communication and we hosted community meetings to allow members of the public to visit the site and feel a part of the development.

Social Value
Working in such close proximity to the local community, we recognised the importance of good social value and community engagement. As such, we:

• Placed 45% of orders with local subcontractors; investing over £2.5m into the local economy
• Collaborated with local labour agencies to provide 1 year and 9 months of full-time employment to three site operatives
• Engaged with KS1 and KS2 pupils of a local primary school, presenting a talk on health and safety in the construction industry
• Achieved a Considerate Constructors score of 45/45
• Buried a time capsule in the centre courtyard; to be excavated on the hospice’s 80th anniversary in 2063

Waste & Environmental Management
We proactively considered waste and the environment, and excelled by:

• Providing rental accommodation for our full-time site team, and covered local
• Reducing CO2 emissions amongst our delivery team by car sharing and utilising public transport
• Registering the project with the Community Wood Recycling Scheme, recycling 17t of wood
• Diverting 100% of 571.62t of construction waste from landfill

“The building operation meets the design requirements that we drafted. The design and build nature of the contract means that an early and pragmatic approach to design development was adopted, working relationships were established that continued through the build. The change control process and site interaction meant that issues were identified early, and no surprises remained when the building was handed over. This resulted in very quick occupation of the building once practical completion had been completed (4 days).The building continues to meet stakeholder expectations and snagging issues are being progressed with involvement from all relevant parties. This means that 3 months [March ‘24] into the 24/7 occupation, we have confidence in the building performance with minimal out of hours issues.”
Paul Rycroft, Project Director, St Catherine’s Hospice